Neville

Heathen

Heathen

 

Take note of these splinters of rough shale and bone

Each numbered and labelled here

Safe behind toughened glass

 

For these now redundant relics were

Most surely once

State of art technology and designed to steal breath

 

Take note too of these ancient tallow proofed

Water stained and warmed cave walls

Where back in the day we lived and hunted

 

Yes how we lived and roamed and loved

Until our hearts and our bellies were contented

 

It was here that once magnificent beasts

As big as London buses so they were

Did roam free

 

Now though I see only ghosts of them

In smoke from long house chimneys

 

Yet it is here I still see and taste a flake

Of you my love

Here too where a slice of me remains

 

Mid these clay masks and Coptic jars

Each filled with dried black blood and honey

Now sealed for eternity

 

It is here I see bronze nails and glass beads strewn

My old obsidian blade discarded

A single broken femur gnawed and drilled through

 

Here and there shards of painted pot remain

Fur and feathers have long since gone though

 

And although our residue and ancient DNA

Is still openly displayed precisely where we left it

It does not feel right nor like our home

 

Tis here my love they queue to stare through

Toughened glass and still they dare to call us both

Primitive and heathen